Stamp-affixing machine



W. J. DAVIS.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men APR. 2, 191a.

Patented May 4, 1920. I

WILLIAM JOSEPH DAVIS, 0F BUSH HILL PARK, ENGLAND.

STAMP-AFFIXING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application filed April 2, 1918. Serial No. 226,275.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J OSEPH DA- vIs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Bush Hill Park, Middlesex, En land, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Stamp-AfliXing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements connected with stamp aflixing machines and has reference to machines which at each operation press a stamp to a surface on which it has been placed, thereby causing the stamps to adhere and to also cancel it by printing a date across its face. Such machines are very useful in connection with National Insurance stamps but as hitherto proposed have suffered from the disadvantage that the removal and resetting of the type each week was difficult and inconvenient and involved the use of some sort of instrument. The object of the present invention is to provide a secure means whereby the type is held in position in the face of the plunger which will at the same time be such that the type can readily be changed from time to time without the necessity for any special instruments.

The invention consists in providing a spring controlledhinged pad orflap upon the plunger head so that the pad can be easily raised and type having flanges inserted into an opening in the flap so that when the pad is released again the type will be held in position with its flanges located between the back of the pad and the adjacent portion of the plunger head, means being provided for holding the plunger of the machine in its depressed position while the type changing operation is being effected.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention, Figure 1 being a v sectional elevational view of a stamping machine plunger fitted with the invention in its raised position in the machine casing. Fig. 2 shows the plunger in its depressed position ready for manipulation to effect the typesetting operation.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the hinged flap opened out ready for the insertion of the type, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of the plunger head and pad showing the type in position.

Referring to these drawings the head 2 of the plunger 1 is provided with a rubber covered pad or plate 3 hinged to it at one slde as at at and constrained by a spiral or other spring 5 to closed position where it abuts against the adjacent part of the plunger head 2 immediately above it. This pad is rubber covered as aforesaid upon its outer face and is provided with bearer proections 3 and also with a type receiving opening or aperture through which the character ends 7 of the type 7 protrude sufficiently to insure even contact with the affixed stamp when the pad as a whole is pressed down in the ordinary operation of the machine. The projection 3 of the pad yields sufiiciently to permit of the type 7 pressing firmly on the surface of the stamp. The separate types 7 employed are provided with flanges 7 at the foot so that when they are inserted into position these flanges prevent them protruding too far and moreover form a means whereby they are held securely in place between the back of the pad and the adjacent portion of the plunger head 2 which is preferably provided with a rubher or other spring cushioning means 8. This method of holding flanged types in po sition protruding through an aperture in a hinged flap or pad is in general well known in connection with rubber dating stamps, and is not to be regarded as claimed by me per 86. In order to render the type changing operation more convenient I provide the plunger itself with a small hole or recess 9 and at a convenient position I provide a small spring catch or plunger 10 the spring of which normally, tends to maintain it in its withdrawn or inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to change the type the stamping machine plunger is depressed to its full extent when the spring catch 10 aforesaid will be coincident with the recess 9 aforesaid in the plunger 1. The operator then pushes the catch 10 into the recess against the influence of the spring 11 and releases the plunger which will thus be prevented from returning to normal position by the spring catch or pin 10 aforesaid and the spring catch 10 will be held in its engaged position against the tendency of the spring 11 to withdraw it by reason of the frictional grip or clamping action between the catch 10 and the plungerconsequent upon the tendency of the machine plunger to return to normal position under the influence of its spring. That is to say, the comparatively strong spring of the plunger 1 Will cause the end of the spring catch or plunger 1.0 to be gripped sufliciently tightly to prevent the comparatively Weak spring 11 from Withdrawing it from its engaged position. After the type has been set or re-arranged it is only neces sary to depress the machine plunger slightly to relieve the spring catch 10 of this clamping action and the catch 10 consequently fliesout of its engaging position immediately under the influence of its spring 11 and leaves the machine plunger free to return to normal position ready for use.

It is to be understood that in operation the stamp is arranged in position and moisture applied thereto in any suitable Way, the present invention being concerned solely with the pressing of the stamp onto the envelop or other surface and the printing on the stamp of the date or other matter.

operation is completed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. Stamp afiixing and canceling. machines as set forth in claim 1' wherein the flanged type held with its flanges between the spring controlled hinged pad or plateand a resilient cushion, substantially as specified. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM JOSEPH DAVIS. 

